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The Female Physician: Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.Maubray, John

Science

The Female Physician: Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

Name: The Female Physician: Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.
Author: Maubray, John

Maubray, John

Midwifery -- Early works to 1800; Obstetrics -- Early works to 1800

THEIR great _Ingenuity_ and _Dexterity_ in this _ART_, has (to the Glory
of _GOD_ Almighty’s good _Providence_, and the Honour of their own
_Profession_) rendred the _Use_ of INSTRUMENTS, not only needless and
superfluous, but also odious and ridiculous. They instruct us how to
remedy the most difficult _Occurrences_, by a right _Understanding_ of
the Business, and a nice subtile skilful _HAND_ only, without any manner
of other _INSTRUMENT_; excepting only in the Case of a _MONSTROUS_ or
_dead BIRTH_.

UPON whose great _Authorities_, and the small _Knowledge_ I myself have
of the _Parts_ of Generation, if I affirm the imminent and manifest
_Danger_ of such dilating INSTRUMENTS, as are commonly us’d upon every
trifling Occasion, I hope it will not be taken amiss by the _READER_:
Since my _Design_ is not so much to discourage any in their _Practice_,
as only to excite such _Practitioners_ to apply themselves to the
above-mention’d far more _Safe_, _Easy_, and _Commendable_ METHOD: which
if they shall think fit to do, the Excellency of the _Profession_ will
shine as bright _Here_ as in _other Parts_ of the World; and at the same
time, the absurd _Imputations_ and false _Suggestions_ of the Ignorant
(who imagine all _Women_ to be deliver’d either by CHANCE, or by such
barbarous USAGE) will be clean wip’d off: For (I am fully satisfy’d)
that our ART, no ways depends upon CHANCE or FORTUNE, and running any
_Risque_ or _Hazard_; but (to the contrary) on as firm a _Foundation_,
and as infallible _Rules_, as a great many _other Professions_, which
however yet are sometimes subject to _ACCIDENTS_. All which I shall
endeavour to make evidently appear, in the next _SECTION_; where I shall
treat of the CAUSES of _difficult_ and _preternatural BIRTHS_, together
with the respective _Methods_ of preventing, correcting, or removing
them effectually.




[Illustration]




                               CHAP. II.
            _Of the Qualifications of the Ordinary MIDWIFE._


IT is indeed indifferent whether _Men_ or _Women_ practise this ART, so
the _Practisers_ be properly adapted, and duly qualified for the Purpose
of so great a WORK. As for Instance, in _France_, MEN only profess this
Business; in _Italy_, and _Germany_, MEN and WOMEN promiscuously; in
_England_, _Scotland_, _Holland_, &c. MEN are stiled Extraordinary
MIDWIVES, being seldom or never call’d but in extraordinary _Cases_ of
difficult and preternatural BIRTHS. Wherefore, upon this Account, I
shall _first_ observe and denote the _Qualifications_ most requisite and
absolutely necessary for _WOMEN_ practising this ART.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.